The government blamed militants for attacks on security forces and several bombings, including a blast near a church in the eastern city of Deir Ezzor.

The state-run SANA news agency said "armed terrorist groups" were continuing to breach a truce between the government and rebels that took effect on Friday in observance of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told VOA that more than 50 people were killed in anti-government related violence on Saturday, including at least 17 security force members. Saturday's violence raises the two-day death toll to about 200.

United Nations special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi arranged the cease-fire so Syrians on all sides could celebrate Eid al-Adha, the holiday marking the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

On Friday, Syrian television showed President Bashar al-Assad mingling with worshippers at prayers, while some ordinary Syrians said they were just trying to stay alive and were in no mood to celebrate.